Showtime has officially announced the closure of its standalone streaming service, at the end of April. The streamer, which first launched nine years ago, will cease operations, nearly a year after integrating its programming into the Paramount+ premium plan.
In June 2023, the company introduced the Paramount+ With Showtime ad-free streaming package, along with a price increase from $9.99 to $11.99 per month. Initially Paramount Global expected to phase out the standalone Showtime streaming app by the end of 2023. Meanwhile, the decision to merge Showtime with Paramount+ comes six months after the announcement that Showtime Sports would be discontinued by the end of 2024.
Notice on the Showtime customer help site reads, “Now that subscribers can access their favorite Showtime programs on Paramount+ by subscribing to the Paramount+ with Showtime plan, the Showtime streaming service will shut down on April 30, 2024. Current Showtime streaming subscribers will continue to have access to the Showtime streaming service until it is shut down on April 30, 2024.”
Showtime’s standalone streaming service debuted in July 2015. In a strategy similar to Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to phase out standalone HBO Now and HBO Go apps and rebrand the flagship service as Max in 2023, Paramount+ also opted to integrate Showtime’s content.
Paramount Global head Bob Bakish said, “This new combined offering demonstrates how we can leverage our entire collection of content to drive deeper connections with consumers and greater value for our distribution partners. This change will also drive stronger alignment across our domestic and international Paramount+ offerings, as international Paramount+ already includes Showtime content. And, very importantly, this integration will unlock operational efficiencies and financial benefits across our broader portfolio.”
Paramount Global rebranded the linear Showtime cable network as “Paramount+ With Showtime” in January 2024, incorporating select Paramount+ original series into its schedule. Furthermore, subscribers to this linear TV version of Paramount+ with Showtime can access programming online through authenticated streaming apps provided by pay-TV partners. Additionally, agreements with some large pay-TV providers allow Showtime cable subscribers to access the Paramount+ With Showtime streaming service.